Tim Walker
AMR Reporter
It was revealed at the March 13 meeting of the Pocahontas County Broadband Council that the ARC Broadband Project now has state approval to go to bid in about a week, once the commission pays some First Energy pole bills. The bids will need to be advertised for 30 days, then the Appalachian Regional Commission (ARC) requires a 60-day bid evaluation followed by a 30 day notice to proceed, which would set construction to begin in late July or early August. There is a possibility that the NTIA could complete its bid reviews in fewer than 60 days, which could mean that construction would start sooner.
According to Cory Nipper, of Thompson and Litton Company (T&L), with construction expected to take about six months, the project should be operational around the new year. The council is considering hosting some sort of “ground breaking ceremony” when construction starts.
Regarding the WV Line Extension Advancement and Development (LEAD) program, Citynet’s permitting for the backbone is beginning and construction is anticipated for late spring/ early summer. The Spruce Knob Seneca Rocks Telephone Company’s LEAD project is still in the design and permitting phase.
Regarding the Broadband Equity, Access and Deployment (BEAD) Program, the current Federal pause in that program is believed to be short lived. Mike Holstine said the State Broadband Council is optimistic and has been moving forward full speed with this program. They are ready to go as soon as the feds release the money.
Citynet is working with the state on its BEAD applications and has applied for Pocahontas County.
Melissa O’Brien confirmed that the state is moving aggressively forward with a 14-day NTIA mandated Public Comment Period to be opening in late March for submittal by April 17. The Public Comment Period is actually a Public Announcement of what has been applied for. Holstine said they are in the process of removing some of the bureaucracy from the BEAD program, and since the goal of BEAD is to ensure everyone gets high speed internet, there is no need for the additional “equity” requirements in the program. O’Brien said award announcements may begin as early as the last week in March.
The council’s website remains unusable since being hacked a few months ago.
Keli Ratcliff, who volunteered to create the site, has advised that the site needs to be completely recreated. Options for where the site will be housed were discussed and Ruthana Beezley and Ryan Krofcheck will meet to determine solutions. Holstine suggested the website point to the Pocahontas County data on the WV Broadband Council’s website.
Holstine also said that Frontier Communications has been building fiber optic lines from Minnehaha Springs to Marlinton in the same areas that our ARC Broadband Project will be, and this concerns him and the entire Broadband council, as it appears deliberate. This means the council’s public groundbreaking ceremony is even more important to advertise the ARC Project, which will be managed by the internet service provider Citynet.
And finally, Marlinton Mayor Sam Felton said it has been good to see Citynet installing a hook-up pad in the town.
